Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 get Snapdragon X2 chips
Microsoft launches new Surface Laptops and a Surface Pro with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 processors, available today. Starting prices are $100 higher than the previous generation.
Microsoft has launched the new Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12, both powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 processors. These are direct successors to last year's models with X1 chips and continue the Copilot Plus PC initiative.
Both devices are available starting today. The Surface Pro 12 is a 13-inch convertible tablet with a 10-core X2 Plus or 12-core X2 Elite processor. The Surface Laptop 8 comes in 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes, offering the same X2 Plus and X2 Elite options. The Pro starts at $1,499 (without keyboard or stylus), and the Laptop starts at $1,599 with a 512GB SSD. Both have 16GB of RAM, with higher configurations available.
The new models are $100 more expensive than the current prices of the previous generation. Commercial versions (Surface for Business) will launch on July 14, starting at $1,649.99. Intel Panther Lake business models start at $1,949.99.
Microsoft claims significantly improved graphics performance and excellent battery life: up to 15.5 hours of local video playback on the Surface Pro and up to 20 hours on the Laptop. New color options include jade and dune for the 13.8-inch Laptop, and dune for the Pro (with a matching Flex Keyboard). Much else remains unchanged. The Surface Laptop still uses an LCD display, while the Surface Pro offers an optional OLED. Both retain the 3:2 aspect ratio. Ports are the same, including the Surface Connect magnetic charging port (which will be omitted from the upcoming Surface Laptop Ultra). There is no optional privacy screen.
The new Surfaces do not include Qualcomm's flagship X2 Elite Extreme chip found in the Asus Zenbook A16. Additionally, the Surface Laptop 13, originally starting at $900, now starts at $1,150. Overall, higher prices make these devices less competitive, and changes from the previous generation are minor, limited to a chip upgrade and new colors.
